One week in the books, and the Atlanta Falcons sit atop the South Division in a three-way time for first place. You bet they’ll take it. Was there any bigger win in Week 1 than Carolina’s walk-off like touchdown with the clock reading nothing but zeros? Tampa Bay’s trip to the Big Easy proved to hard, especially now since starting qb Jeff Gracia is a no-go for Week 2.
Atlanta Falcons. Michael Turner sure earned his wings in his Atlanta debut didn’t he? Turner rushing for a Falcons record 220 yards to go along with two scores proves that he’s capable of being a starter in this league. It sure was cold in LaDainian Tomlinson’s shadow for him. But not anymore. Atlanta rushed for 318 yards as a team and rookie quarterback Matt Ryan threw his first touchdown of this career on just the third play from scrimmage. A monumental step in the right direction for this franchise after the nightmare season a year ago when their franchise quarterback went to jail and their head coach quit and went to Arkansas.
New Orleans Saints. That was sure as hell a better start than last year’s 41-10 spanking they received from Indy, ehh? Reggie Bush looked absolutely lethal. That was the first time since he’s been in the NFL that his play reminded me of his USC days. Bush got the game-winner on a 42-yard pass from Brees. On the day he had eight receptions for 112 yards, and the Bucs had no success stopping him. He’s good at numerous things while not excelling at any one thing and I still say head coach Sean Payton has to make a conscious effort to get the ball in Bush’s hands 20-30 times on. Sunday, he touched it 22 times. Fabulous day for Drew Brees: 343 yards and three scores and just nine incompletions. The defense looks much improved compared to how pourous they were a season ago. They allowed Tampa Bay to convert just 2-of-12 3rd downs and with the Bucs driving for the go-ahead score, the defense stood tall and sealed the deal with linebacker Scott Fujita’s interception.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They just couldn’t seem to generate much offense until late in the 4th quarter. The Jeff Garcia led unit didn’t pick up their first, third-down conversion until the early going in the 4th, and were just 2-for-12 on 3rd down all day. Earnest Graham had a good down on the ground, rushing for 91 yards on ten carries. Very surprising his number wasn’t called more often, considered what he did a season ago when filling in for the injured Cadillac Williams. The Saints killer B’s (Brees and Bush) made the defense look very average. And old. Brees carved them up through the air to the tune of 343 passing yards and three TD’s, and Bush had 163 total yards of offense. They don’t give up many big, high octane plays down the field, but the defense gave up three on Sunday: 39-yarder, 84-yarder and a 42-yarder that proved to be the game winner. All three plays resulted in New Orleans scores.
Carolina Panthers. This was their biggest win that I can remember since their playoff overtime winner against the Rams or conference title win in Philly, your choice. And they were withouth their biggest threat and best playmaker, wideout Steve Smith. Jake Delhomme looks to have no ill effects of elbow surgery that forced him out of the final 13 games a year ago. Carolina blended running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart nicely. The duo gained 139 of the Panthers 142 rushing yards. The Panthers matched the Chargers physical style of play on every down. Chances are before this one began, if I told you the game-winning score would be a qb-tight end connection, I’m curious to know how many would have said Philip Rivers-Antonio Gates and how many would’ve guessed Jake Delhomme and Dante Rosario.
